The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

The pinnawala Elephant orphanage is in the kegalle District(Sri Lanka). The road that leads to the orphanage is about two kilo metres from Kegalla town, on the Kandy road.

                It was started in 1975. There are baby and adult elephants in the orphanage. They are all rescued elephants. Farmers shoot at elephants when they come to their villages. Sometimes they throw fire brands to scare them away. Some elephants fall into pits, well and water-holes, when come in search of water in the dry season. Some injured elephants fall on the way. They cannot get up because of pain, hunger and thirst. Such elephants are rescued and brought to the orphanage.

Discovery of Antiseptic

                Joseph Lister was born in Upton, Essex, in England in 1827. He was educated at the universities of London and Edinburgh, 1852. In 1856 he became a surgeon in the Edinburgh royal Infirmary or hospital. In 1861 he was appointed surgeon of the Glasgow royal Infirmary in the new surgery unit designed to reduce gangrene and other infections. At that time, it was more dangerous to go to hospitals for surgery. One famous doctor said that it was very dangerous to to go to hospitals for surgery than to be a soldier in a war. This was because many died from infection. Despite his efforts to keep surgical instruments and rooms clean, the mortality rate remained closed to 50 percent.